Kathmandu, Sept. 16 -- India has renewed approval for Nepal to import up to 654 megawatts of electricity, but has yet to renew export permits for three hydropower projects whose approvals expired while Nepal was selling power to India.

The export permit for the 38.8MW Upper Chameliya Hydropower Project expired on June 30, while those for the 24.25MW Seti River and 10.7MW Upper Tadi Khola projects expired on July 31.

Nepal exports surplus electricity to India and Bangladesh during the monsoon but relies on imports from India in the dry winter months, when hydropower generation falls.

India's Ministry of Power said on Monday that it had approved electricity imports by Nepal's power utility, the Nepal Electricity Authority, for 18 hours a...